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Scrappy Trip Along progress and New Olfa Splash

Over the past few months I’ve been working on a lot of projects with deadlines. I finally wrapped many of them up and it has been so nice to do some “just-for-fun” sewing. I pulled out my Scrappy Trip-Along blocks that I started last January. They got put on the back-burner and it was fun to see again. I’ve worked on a few each day and my number is growing.

Here’s the progress as it stands right now. I’m using lots of my very favorite fabrics – the kind you hoard for “just the right project” but I’m not 100% smitten. I’m trying to figure out why. I added some brown to the mix and I think it’s given a little more depth. I’m going to keep playing with it. I know I will LIKE however it turns out, but I kind of want to LOVE it. The original tutorial for Scrappy Trips Around the World is here. I warn you: it is addicting in the funnest kind of way.

I’m also trying to catch up on my final outstanding (as in over-due) bee block for Calli. It’s a paper-pieced Double Wedding Ring quilt. This one is going to stretch me a little, but if I can conquer it, I may have found a new project I want to try! That is what I love about Bees. I still need to make my Block #7 from the Virtual Quilting Bee!

As I’m working on these rotary-cutter heavy projects, I am loving using the new Splash rotary cutter by Olfa. This is their brand new model of the mid-size (45mm) rotary cutter. I am a die-hard Olfa rotary cutter user. I have been using them as long as I’ve been quilting and I think they are the most sturdy and stable. Any time I’ve tried a different brand of rotary cutters I’ve been disappointed or frustrated or just plain irritated.

So when the nice people at Olfa contacted me about sending one of these new Splash cutters to try out my answer was a “yes please!” I am hooked. This cutter is more ergonomic (easier on your hands), lighter-weight (but just as sturdy) and the clincher is the much-improved mechanism for changing the blade. You just slid the yellow doohickey on the back down and the blade is ready to pop off, change and put back in place. So much slicker than that knob and washer-thingy that have to be put back just-so. And, it’s turquoise so points for color too. And on top of all that: it’s cheaper than the old 45mm version. Kind of a no-brainer.

Other than sending me the rotary cutter, Olfa did not compensate me in any way for this review (though I wouldn’t turn down a life-time supply of blades if they offered it) – all the thoughts and opinions are my own. But they did send a second rotary cutter to share with a friend. So if you’d like a new Splash rotary cutter of your own, leave a comment on this post. Open until Sunday, June 9 at midnight MST. GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

I have been trying to cheap out on my rotary cutters… gah. I borrowed my Mom&#39;s sewing kit recently and made the &quot;mistake&quot; of trying her Olaf rotary cutter that was in with her stuff. I&#39;m convinced… its the only way to go. My Mom would love me to win this so I didn&#39;t have to &quot;steal&quot; her rotary cutter (oh, was it in the stuff you lent to me, Mom? really? are you

Hello from across the pond! I&#39;m not sure if you will be entering overseas visitors in the draw for the new Olfa cutter but if you are… count me in. and if you&#39;re not, I can just add this item to my ever growing shopping list for the next craft show to hit town:-) I love how you change the blade! that&#39;s got to be a winner.<br /><br />Love your scrappy trip quilt. I&#39;ve

I love my Olfa rotary cutters. I tried 3 other brands when I first started quilting. 2 of them broke quickly. The 3rd has to be manually screwed open &amp; shut so it&#39;s not safe enough for me (I use it to cut paper for foundation piecing). Then I bought an Olfa rotary cutter &amp; never looked back. Thanks for the chance to win.

I completely agree about the Olfa blades. I have another brand and could never figure out why my new blades seemed to shred my fabric. Just recently, I bought the Olfa blades because they were on sale and I am just amazed at the ease in cutting now.

I completely agree about the Olfa blades. I have another brand and could never figure out why my new blades seemed to shred my fabric. Just recently, I bought the Olfa blades because they were on sale and I am just amazed at the ease in cutting now.

Everyone is saying how great this new Olfa Splash is. I&#39;m not in love with my rotary cutter (it&#39;s another brand) and have never used an Olfa. I&#39;ve been thinking of getting one so thanks for offering the giveaway!!!

I use an Olfa 45 mm rotary cutter and it is the best one I&#39;ve ever brought, I&#39;d absolutely love a turquoise one with an easy to change blade though : )<br />I love the scrappy trips around the world progress (I would like to try one too) I love the colours and how you&#39;ve put them together.<br />Emma x

have fun with the dble wedding ring block-I&#39;m scared of that one, personally ;)<br />Olfa cutters are the best (I think) and thanks for a chance to win this super cute new one-and if it&#39;s easier to change the blade that is fantastic.

I&#39;d love to try an ergonomic rotary cutter. I&#39;ve had problems with my carpal tunnel lately and it would be helpful. Besides, I&#39;m too cheap to buy a new one with the one I have working perfectly!

I have not jumped on the Scrappy Trip bandwagon…but they are wonderful! I only use Olfa Rotary cutters and I primarily use the Ergonomic cutter. Love it and I purchase my 5-pack Olfa blades with my 40% off coupon at Michael&#39;s. Thanks for the giveaway and I am anxious to try the new blade changing system.

I am a totally Olfa girl! I have been looking at the splash thinking…do I REALLY need another rotary cutter?!! I guess the answer is overwhelmingly YES! Thank you for sharing your second one with one of your devotees!

I have had my eye on that new cutter, glad that you like it. I started not one, but two scrappy trips this January, a scrappy one, and a black and white one with one red strip in each block, a wedding gift, and have visions of several more in fun color ways~

I&#39;ve not yet made a trip around the world quilt, but you are seriously tempting me!!<br />I have Olfa and Fiskers rotary cutters and like each for different size/purpose. Would love to give a stylish colorful new light-weight Olfa a try. Thanks for the giveaway!

I think I definately need this. My current other brand rotary cutter is driving me bonkers. If I am sitting a large amount the knob falls off after a while. Seriously frustrating. This one is prettier too. !&quot;

I&#39;d take a lifetime supply of blades, too. Amazing how many of them you can go through! I&#39;m working on my scrappy trip along, and so far can&#39;t decide if I love it or not. Hopefully more blocks will help!

That&#39;s funny that you are offering to share…..I just got a thank you gift from a co worker of a Joanns gift card for backing a quilt for her and I was thinking how I liked your cutter and might have to go look for it to use my GC with……and there was your post! I need a new cutter so I&#39;d love to win yours…<br /><br />Peggy in NJ

I would love to try an Olfa as I have only ever had a cheapo copy. (I am in UK so discount me if not posting overseas though) I wondered if so brighter colours would make you love the quilt more – it reads quite dark to me. That is not the right word, but I am thinking lime, turquoise, orange? However it looks lovely anyway.

WOW, how I need a new rotary cutter and blue is my favorite color. I did purchase the other one they made that had this great blade changing system and I will never go back! I never seemed to get the screw back on correctly so my blade was either wobbly or didn&#39;t roll at all. I think they had me in mind when they made this one.I agree a lifetime supply of blades would be nice, but I am not a

I just love those blocks! If you don&#39;t love the quilt when it is all finished, I will sacrifice and take it off your hands! ;-)<br />That Olfa cutter looks great! Love the color. I don&#39;t use any rotary cutter but Olfa! I&#39;d love to give that new one a try. Thanks for the chance!

Your Scrappy Trip Along is so cheerful it makes me want to stop what I&#39;m working on and start one of my own. I&#39;ve seen the new Splash rotary cutter but haven&#39;t had a chance to check it out up close. Thanks for the review and a chance to win one of my own.

beautiful scrappy trip!! mine is being quilted right now. you have a lot of red (i love red). you may want to cut back on the red just a bit to show it off even more. i feel odd giving this thought but i love red and always need to talk myself into using less to use it to advantage!! no offense intended!! love your palette.

I have only one rotary cutter…it is yellow, with the screw and spring-disk-thingy, an Olfa that is nearly 20 years old. It works just fine, except I am noticing that as I use it, the screw tends to loosen on its own… Hmmm, makes me think I&#39;d love to try this new fangled cutter—and see if it can go twenty years like my original!!!

I&#39;ve had my old Olfa for many years and I love it except for changing the blade! I teach a beginning class of quilters, and they struggle with the terribly. I&#39;d love to try out the new one! If I don&#39;t win, I&#39;ll definitely buy one. Thanks for the review and the chance to win!

I love your scrappy trip around the world – it&#39;s beautiful. That pattern has been on my &quot;to-do&quot; list for when I build up my own scrap pile. (We&#39;re working on it).<br /><br />I do love the color of the Olfa blade – it would look pretty on my sewing table.

Thanks for the chance to win a new Olfa rotary cutter — I need one. And I was happy to see your Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt top in progress. I just started my own and you&#39;re right — it&#39;s addicting. But I thought the same thing about my blocks — nice but not spectacular. Maybe it will pop when the quilting and binding are finished. Thanks again for the review and offer to

I would love a new Olaf rotary cutter. It would be so much easier to change the blade. My last experience while cutting with my 60mm rotary cutter was a trip to the ER and came home with 5 stitches. Thank you for the giveaway

I like the look of the easy change on it, I had trouble undoing my regular one the first time, don&#39;t want to slip while doing that, even if the blade is blunt! I&#39;ve always wondered why rotary cutters are such boring colours, especially when quilters are all about colour and texture!

I want to try the Scrappy Trip and I just need to buckle down and do it. I have quite the haul of scraps to use, so no excuses! <br /><br />I have a mini Olfa and I love it! It&#39;s not great for cutting out a lot of fabric but the perfect size for trimming.

I am new to quilting and would love the olfa cutter and blue just happens to be my favourite colour. However I&#39;m in Australia so not sure I qualify for the giveaway. I love your scrappy quilt, I&#39;ve never made a big quilt before only small projects and I renovated a quilt top I found in the thrift shop for $1 for my daughters bedroom. Actually that&#39;s what got me interested in trying

I love Olfa cutters too! My favourite one is the ergonomic one, so I hope they might relaunch that one in the turquoise colour (although I wouldn&#39;t say no if I won – just saying!) Thanks for the opportunity, Terri in BC

Hi Amy,<br /> I really like your scrappy Trips so far. When I was making mine, I kept overthinking every block, I finally gave up and just had fun. Now I love my it!<br />And Thank you for the chance at the giveaway. Have fun:)<br />jan@sewandsowfarm

Your &quot;Trip Around the World&quot; quilt is awesome!! I have been using Olfa cutters ever since they came on the market. I have worn out many of them. I have tried other brands but do not like any that I have tried. I would love to try Olfa&#39;s new model, the blade changing sounds great, The blade changing is what I fear most. Thanks for keeping us updated.

Olfa is absolutely fantastic! I also have the older version of the cutter and always have trouble changing the blade. I need a new one! Thanks for the review and the chance to win! mburnette912@bellsouth.net

I just bought this rotary cutter yesterday ~ thanks for your opinion ~ I don&#39;t think I will be dissapointed ~ Another one won&#39;t hurt !<br /><br />Thanks again for your opinion and for showing your scrappy trip quilt ~ Maybe I will get mine finished this month ~<br /><br />(senoraresources@msn.com)

I finally went back to Olfa after cheating on them with a floozy from Fiskars. It was downright awful! Never again – I will remain faithful. And now that they have an aqua and yellow one that would match my sewing room? Well, it&#39;s PERFECT!<br /><br />The scrappy trips are hard to love mid-process, I&#39;ve found. I didn&#39;t go completely scrappy, but it was still hard in the middle of it

Have been thinking of getting an Olfa rotary cutter. Currrently use one from Fiskars, which has been great. I just hear so often how wonderful Olfa is. And the color sure makes this one tempting!<br />(majesticjenkinsATgmailDOTcom)

I&#39;ve used Olfa cutters for over fifteen years. I tried other brands, but Olfa really is the best. I&#39;d love to try the new aqua one. It looks like it would be easier to change the blades on the new ones. Sometimes the screw on the yellow ones would get rusty and stick.

How fun! I would love the new cutter, I too love Olfa and the color is sweet! I sent my scrappy trip along off to be quilted this week, in the end I loved it! It really needed all the blocks to come together. Now I am so anxious to see what Natalia does with it!

Love the scrappy trip around the world. The more I see these, the more I think I need to add it to the &quot;list.&quot; :P<br /><br />I would love a new rotary cutter that is more ergonomic and easier to change! Please count me in! Thanks for the review, too. I saw these the other day and was wondering if they were any different than the old ones.<br /><br />Sandy A

I&#39;ve had my eye on that new cutter for a bit now because of the color, but wasn&#39;t sure if I&#39;d like it better than my current olfa. Sounds like it&#39;s great! And the easier blade change system….nice!

I&#39;ve had my eye on that new cutter for a bit now because of the color, but wasn&#39;t sure if I&#39;d like it better than my current olfa. Sounds like it&#39;s great! And the easier blade change system….nice!

Oh how I love Olfa! I&#39;ve tried other brands and nothing compares. They&#39;re the best. Thanks for the chance to win. Your quilts are looking fantastic. I&#39;ve heard how addicting Scrappy Trip Along is so I haven&#39;t started it yet in the best interest of getting other projects done. Maybe someday…

I love my original Olfa rotary cutter best. But the new one looks great. I also live the scrappy. I have a box of precious scraps I am hoarding for just the right project. Thisay be it. Thanks for Sharing!!

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